Thursday, August 04, 2016

Nazi-era industrialist's Mercedes that was stolen by a U.S. soldier is seized and returned to his German family

An incredibly rare Mercedes that was taken by a U.S. soldier from a German industrialist while he was imprisoned for working with the Nazis is now set to sell for £6m after a court ruling returned it to the family of its original owner.

The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster was found by Allied troops on the estate of factory owner Hans Prym, while they were lodged there, after he was imprisoned in 1945. The car, one of the best Mercedes ever made, was transported to America where it spent the next 66 years before it was sold in 2011 for £2.9m to a Dutch car enthusiast.

After taking delivery if the classic motor, Frans van Haren took it to a car show in Essen, Germany, at which point it was seized by local authorities.

This sparked a legal case between Mr van Haren and the Prym family which went in favour of the descendants of the original owner. Now the family has put the car up for auction at Bonhams who have valued it at £5.95m"